Photo: Proarte · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Lakewood is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns
Lakewood differs from California on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 16 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lakewood. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lakewood
Against towns with similar incomes, Lakewood’s lead shrinks
Lakewood is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns, but 58% of the 5,858 towns with similar household incomes ($89K–$149K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Lakewood adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, utility bills and getting around all run below California. 1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Heart disease and COPD are less common in Lakewood
Lakewood runs below California on heart disease (4.6% vs 5.6%) and COPD (4.2% vs 5.1%). Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the California figure falls outside Lakewood’s likely range.
What’s behind Lakewood’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lakewood is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns, #251 of 847 in California. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 96% of towns); the weakest is fair or poor health, still better than 53%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Lakewood’s median household income is $119,177; among the 5,858 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($89K–$149K), it’s healthier than 58%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.9% of Lakewood adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Out of every 100 Lakewood adults…
Lakewood runs below CA on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Lakewood
1 hospital in Lakewood, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Lakewood; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
5.7 miles of trails across 14 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Lakewood adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
How Lakewood adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Lakewood runs above California.
2 in 5 Lakewood adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Lakewood and the towns around it
Lakewood’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 7 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood | A− | 24.2% | 10.6% | 9.7% | CDC place |
| Long Beach | B | 27.4% | 11.7% | 11.9% | CDC place |
| Cerritos | A | 16.6% | 12.7% | 6.7% | CDC place |
| Hawaiian Gardens | C | 29% | 14% | 12.7% | CDC place |
| Cypress | A | 21.1% | 11% | 8% | CDC place |
| Bellflower | C+ | 28.7% | 12.9% | 12.4% | CDC place |
| La Palma | A− | 19.7% | 12.7% | 7.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lakewood adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lakewood
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lakewood is better than California on 16 and worse on 1; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Lakewood’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lakewood | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.1%17.5–20.6 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.4%11.3–13.5 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%14.2–16.9 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24.2%21.6–26.8 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 10.6%9.5–11.7 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 28.3%26.4–30.3 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.3%34–38.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 19.4%17.9–21 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.1%8.2–10 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.2%5.7–6.7 | 6.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.6%4.2–5 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.2%3.8–4.6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.9%5.6–8.3 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.7%8.6–10.8 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 21.6%19.6–23.6 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.7%14–17.4 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.5%32.6–38.3 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8%7.1–8.9 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.6%70.3–74.8 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.4%63.9–68.6 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%85.6–88.1 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.5%69–73.8 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59%55.6–62.1 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.6%72.8–81.7 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19%17.2–20.9 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40%37.4–42.9 | 37.3% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.6%28.3–33.2 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.8%13.4–16.4 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.3%12.1–14.8 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.7%5–6.4 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.7%7–8.6 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.9%10.7–13.3 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.3%25.2–29.5 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.9%10.8–13.1 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.2%12.1–14.4 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5%4.5–5.5 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.6%4.2–4.9 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7%6.4–7.7 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%3.1–3.6 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the California figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Lakewood
Is Lakewood a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lakewood is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #251 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 58%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lakewood?
CDC estimates 24.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.6% and 26.8%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lakewood?
UCI Health-Lakewood in Lakewood, 1.8 miles in a straight line from Lakewood’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lakewood have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.1–8.9%), against 10.6% across California.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Lakewood more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Lakewood.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.